By Edmond Ortiz
Staff Writer

The city of Schertz could be the next Interstate 35 corridor town to join an ambitious project to develop a commuter rail system meant to alleviate automobile traffic between San Antonio and Georgetown.

Representatives from the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District have for a third time approached the city of Schertz, asking to see whether this growing town of more than 33,000 people wishes to join the organization so it could officially have input on the project.

The district proposes a 110-mile passenger rail service operate in the existing Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way paralleling I-35 bet-ween Port San Antonio (formerly Kelly Air Force Base/ KellyUSA) and the abandoned MoKan right-of-way from Round Rock to Georgetown.

Rail district personnel first addressed City Council late last year and met with city staff in the spring. Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission held another presentation with district staff and consultants Oct. 30.

Council has expressed interest in possibly voting this month on whether to have the city join the district, which has talked with other governing entities along the corridor about membership.

Mayor Hal Baldwin and council members cited a need to ease congestion along I-35, but that it would behoove Schertz to have a formal voice on financing, construction, operations and other issues. District members pay $49,500 annually to guarantee a seat at the table to help plan elements such as rail stops.

“Joining the district doesn’t commit you to funding the system,” said Alison Schulze, district administrator and senior planner. “When entities join the district, it helps give us extra federal funding, but strings are attached there. You could use that money for certain things.”

Participants must decide whether to contribute a larger sum to take part in long-term financing for the project, which carries an estimated $612 million price tag. The rail district has yet to determine exactly how to distribute cost-sharing among the participants.

According to one funding formula, Schertz’s contribution could be as much as $1.2 million. Although the decision on larger financial commitments can be made years from now, the district must also choose the funding mechanism, Schulze said. Government funds, developer sponsorships or bonds sold by participating cities are options here.

The ASA district proposes 15 stations: four in the San Antonio area, including I-35 at Loop 1604; one at FM 3009 in Schertz, one in New Braun-fels, five elsewhere and four in the Austin area.